Adjustable eraser



July 2, 19.4.6- l c. PETERSON *2,403,235

ADJUSTABLE ERASER Filed'Nv. 15,1944

2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor July 2, 1946 F. c. PETERSON ADJUSTABLE ERASER Filed Nov. 415, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 Inventor Patented July 2, 1946 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i 2,403,235 'v ADJUSTABLE ERASER A Frank C. Peterson, Randolph, Mass.

Application November 15, 1944, Serial No. 563,533

arranged transversely of the tube at the upper` end of the latter and respectively engaging opposite sides of the eraser, and means operatively connecting said feed rollers with the gear teeth, whereby turning of the cap will effect longitudinal adjustment of the eraser.

The exact nature of the present invention will be readily understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

' In the drawings, whereinlike reference char.- acters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a pencil equipped with an adjustable eraser attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention. Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view of the attachment shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevation looking to the left of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 of the attachment shown in Figure 5.

Figure 'l is a section of the plane of line I-'I of Figure 6, with the cap and eraser omitted.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 4 of the device shown in Figure 5.

' Figure 9 is a view, similar to Figure 2, of a further modification.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present attachment includes a tube 5 that may be adapted to be secured on the upper end of a pencil 6 and that is preferably divided into a loWer Kpencil end-receiving chamber 'I and an upper eraser-receiving chamber 8 by means of a transverse partition 9. While any suitable means may be employed to secure the tube 5 on the 4 claims. (Cl. 12o-38),'

pencil 6, the lowerend of said tube is preferably internally threaded, as at I0, so that the lower end of the tube may bescrewed into thefpencil.y

An eraser I I is longitudinally slidable in the tube 5, and a cap I2 is rotatable on the upper end of the tube and is provided Withtangentialgear teeth I3 which, as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, are formed on the upper surface of an inwardly projecting flange I8 provided on the inner or lower endv of cap I2.` 'I'he cap I2.. has a central opening Il'through which the eraser projects, and feed rollers I5 are journaledin the..

tube at the upper end of the latter. The rollers I5 respectively engage opposite sides of the eraser. In Figures l to 4, the rollers have shafts I6, respectively at opposite ends thereof, which project into the cap I2. Pinions I1 are secured on the shafts I6 and mesh with the gear teeth I3, whereby turning of the cap I2 will eifect longitudinal adjustment of the eraser. Obviously, the eraser may be adjusted outwardly or inwardly, depending upon the direction of rotation of the cap I2, so that the eraser may be positioned to have the desired amount or portion thereof projecting outwardly beyond the cap. The teeth of the pinions I1 are formed to properly mesh with the tangential gear teeth I3. It

will be seen that the cap I2 is retained in place upon the upper end of the tube 5 by engagement of the flange I8, which carries the gear teeth I3, beneath the pinions I1. A very simple and durable attachment is thus provided which is efficient in operation, easy to use and economical to manufacture.

In the embodiment of Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, the rollers I5 are in the form of worm pinions disposed to project through slots provided in opposite sides of tube 5. The rollers I 5 are geared to the cap for rotation thereby in that they directly mesh with internal worm gear threads I 3 provided on cap I2. In this form, the cap I2 is retained in place by spinning the flange I8', which is provided on the lower end of cap I2', inwardly into an annular Vexternal groove I9 provided in the tube 5. Rotation of cap I2' in this form causes rotation of rollers I5' so that the latter adjust the eraser inwardly or outwardly, depending upon the direction in which cap I2' is rotated.

In the modification of Figure 9, the cap I2a is retained in place by spinning the flange I8a into groove lila, but the pinions I'Ia are secured on shafts Ilia within tube 5a and mesh with gear teeth I3` L of a cylindrical flange rigid with the top of cap I2a and projecting into tube 5a out- *wardly of rollers l5a.

The invention is simple, compact and efficient,

1and all forms operate in substantially the same manner.

What I claim as new is: Y 1. An adjustable eraser attachment for pencils,

comprising a tube adapted to be secured on the upper end of a pencil, an eraser longitudinally 3 slidable in the tube, a cap rotatable on the upper end of the tube and provided with gear teeth, said cap having a central opening through which the eraser projects, feed rollers journaled in and arranged transversely of the tube at the upper end of the latter and respectively engaging opposite `sides of the eraser, said feed rollersrhaving shafts respectively at opposite ends thereof projecting linto the cap, and pinions secured on said shafts and meshing with the gear teeth, whereby turn-'- ing of the cap Will effect longitudinal adjustment of the eraser.

2. An adjustable eraser attachment for pen# cils, comprising a tube adapted to be secured on `theupper end of a pencil, an eraser longitudinally slidable in the tube,l a cap rotatable on the upper `end of the tube and provided with gear teeth, said cap having a central opening through which the eraser projects,feed rollers journaled in and ar- ;ranged transversely of the tube at the upper end ,of the latter and respectively` engaging opposite sides of the eraser, saidy feed rollers having shafts respectively 'atl opposite ends thereof projecting :into the cap, and pinions secured on said vshafts said cap, having ay central opening through which the eraser projects, feed rollers journaled in and arranged transversely of the tube at the upper end of the latter and respectively engaging opposite sides of the eraser, said feed rollers having shafts respectively at opposite ends thereof projecting into the cap, and pinions secured on said shafts and meshing with the gear teeth,

whereby turning of the cap will effect longitudinal adjustment of the eraser, an inwardly projecting annular flange on the inner end of the cap, said ange having said gear teeth on the upper surface thereof.. A

4. An adjustable eraser, comprising a tube, an eraser longitudinally sldable in the tube, acap rotatably secured on the upper end of the tube and havinga central opening through Which the eraser projects, rotatable feed rollers carried by the tube, and respectively engaging opposite sides of the eraser, and means gearing the feed rollers to the cap, whereby turning of the cap will cause rotation of the feed rollers for longitudinally adjusting the eraser.

FRANK C. PETERSON. 

